Cadbury
Well-Known Member
It’s definitely time to replace my riding hat, however I’m completely lost as to what’s out there, riding hat standards, which are the safest without spending ridiculous money etc. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Choosing a riding hat
- Thread starter Cadbury
- Start date
Herewegoagain
Well-Known Member
I’ve just bought a champion skull cap. I prefer the skull caps as I feel like they provide good coverage and just feel secure and safe rather than trying to look fancy. You can get really nice silks too.
I believe MIPS is supposed to be a good safety feature and gives an extra layer of protection.
I would recommend getting fitted as I almost bought one that was too tight until the lady in the tack shop helped me and advised I got a size bigger so that it would come further down my forehead and not squeeze my temples. I wore the hat on Sunday for about 2.5 hours and it felt great and didn’t give me a headache.
I believe MIPS is supposed to be a good safety feature and gives an extra layer of protection.
I would recommend getting fitted as I almost bought one that was too tight until the lady in the tack shop helped me and advised I got a size bigger so that it would come further down my forehead and not squeeze my temples. I wore the hat on Sunday for about 2.5 hours and it felt great and didn’t give me a headache.
Cadbury
Well-Known Member
Thank you, I’ll have a look at them. I’ll definitely get someone to fit it - I’ve made the mistake of thinking a too-small riding hat fitted before and finished a 3 hour hack with a very bad headache!!
Cragrat
Well-Known Member
Lots of info here:
and the FEI are updating their list of acceptable standards - although they are useless in many ways, hopefully they have got this right!
and the FEI are updating their list of acceptable standards - although they are useless in many ways, hopefully they have got this right!
Npsouth
Member
I always go for Charles owen as I find their more oval than round (I believe champion have a round shape - or at least that always used to be the case), and I get a headache. Definitely recommend going for a fitting, it’s only after wearing a hat that’s the wrong shape for a little while that I get pain, in a hat that’s otherwise fitting….
AppyLover1996
Well-Known Member
I've always ridden in Champion hats as that is what suits my head the best.
I do find that they're good value for money and hold up well over time too - I only ended up replacing my old one cause I took one hell of a bash to the head. Think mine cost about £100.00 from the tack shop and I had it fitted to me
A lot of it depends on what you plan on doing as a rider as you'll need to make sure your hat is up to the correct standards if you are competing at certain levels etc x
I do find that they're good value for money and hold up well over time too - I only ended up replacing my old one cause I took one hell of a bash to the head. Think mine cost about £100.00 from the tack shop and I had it fitted to me
A lot of it depends on what you plan on doing as a rider as you'll need to make sure your hat is up to the correct standards if you are competing at certain levels etc x
Skib
Well-Known Member
Yes, things are new. The development of safety helmets for cyclists has altered horse riding helmets too.
Falling from a horse is not the same as falling from a bike, where one's head may hit the edge of the kerb, but cycling helmets reflected greater awaremess of how an impact affects not just the skull, but the movement of ones brain inside the skull.
As a result similar mips lined hats were developed for horse riders too. These helmets are put on from the front of ones head and do not come so far down the back. meaning the edge of the riding hat no longer cuts into ones neck when one falls.
The outer shell of the hat comes in fewer sizes that the old hats. What matters is the mips lining set into the hat, which needs to be fitted and adjusted to your head by a qualified fitter.
Mine is a Champion mips jockey helmet. It has no peak. I wear it with a silk with a peak. It wasnt cheap, about £175 but I trust it. And it is very comfortable.
Falling from a horse is not the same as falling from a bike, where one's head may hit the edge of the kerb, but cycling helmets reflected greater awaremess of how an impact affects not just the skull, but the movement of ones brain inside the skull.
As a result similar mips lined hats were developed for horse riders too. These helmets are put on from the front of ones head and do not come so far down the back. meaning the edge of the riding hat no longer cuts into ones neck when one falls.
The outer shell of the hat comes in fewer sizes that the old hats. What matters is the mips lining set into the hat, which needs to be fitted and adjusted to your head by a qualified fitter.
Mine is a Champion mips jockey helmet. It has no peak. I wear it with a silk with a peak. It wasnt cheap, about £175 but I trust it. And it is very comfortable.